Hi everyone! As anticipated, the "big white dress" and "walk down the aisle" chapter. This chapter took a little long for me to write because I wanted it to be perfect. I had to do a lot of research on weddings. Updates after this will be more regular. Tiva forever2009-2010, your wish is my command.

Enjoy! :)


Chapter 4: Unconditional

Laundry. One thing that wasn't much of Sam's wide range of expertise. It was a Saturday and it was their day off today. Both Andy and Sam were busy cleaning their house. Andy was upstairs cleaning their room and study. Sam, laundry. Yeah, definitely not one of his many talents. Things were a little better between them. They were talking and to Sam's surprise, sarcasm. While Sam was sorting out the laundry, he heard a loud crash. Andy...

"Andy? Are you okay up there?"

When he didn't hear a response form Andy, he panicked. He called again, this time even louder.

"Andy?"

His heart was racing. He raced up the stairs and saw Andy on the floor. Photographs all scattered on their floor. For a moment, Sam was just looking at Andy. Andy on the other hand started picking up the photo's. OH. GOD. They weren't just any photographs, they were photo's from their wedding day. For a moment Sam couldn't think. All he could think about was how beautiful Andy looked on their wedding day. She was radiant.

"Wha... What's this?"

She was stammering. Sam figured that she was nervous. He needed to get his act together now or else things would go out of hand.

"Uhh.. Our- I mean pictures of the wedding."

"It's ours isn't?"

"I-"

Andy scoffed. She was angry. He hid it from her. It's not like she didn't know, technically she just forgot. He should have showed it to her. She was dead right pissed and had every right to be so.

"How long were you hiding it away from me?"

"Andy, it's not like that. I Just... I didn't wan't you to freak out on me. You can't just-"

"So not telling me was the best option?"

"YOU DON"T LOVE ME! You couldn't even believe we still ARE married."

Oh no. Sam lost it. He was angry. She lost her memory and was blaming him for being cautious. Sam didn't want to lose her and thought that telling her would have helped save their marriage. Apparently not. In their hearts, words of anger was exchanged between them. Each one justifying one's action's and choice of words.

"You know what? I think I'll just go and read a book or something."

Andy had lost her temper and really wasn't in the mood with arguing. Sam grabbed her hand as she was walking out from their bedroom.

"Andy, are we really there? Please, don't go."

"I wanna know..."

"What are you saying?"

"I wanna know how our wedding was."


21st February 2010. The day Sam would never forget. Andy made Sam the happiest man alive when she said yes to his proposal. An even happier man when she walked down the aisle.

"Hello?"

"Can I speak to Mrs. Swarek?"

Andy instantly knew who that was on the other side of the line. She played along with Sam's dialogue.

"Well, technically, I'm still single and am not bound by a marriage oath so you probably got the wrong number."

"I miss you. Can't I just come over for a while. Tracy won't mind. It is your house anyway. Plus I have some important marriage details to work out with you."

"NO. WAY. No way are you coming over here and spoiling this thing up. It's bad luck okay? You'll see me tomorrow. I'll be the girl with the big with dress and flowers. Shouldn't you be busy planning out your bachelorette party?"

"I am. I'm thinking of coming over and getting a little-you know before the wedding? I heard it allows the bride to get rid of cold feet."

"Sam..."

"It's true. Besides, what kind of husband-to-be will I be if I'm not even helpful huh?"

"The kind that will make me happy."

They both laughed at that. In just 24 hours they would have finished saying they vows and pronounced as husband and wife. Somehow or rather it made both of them silent. They were getting married. Talk about getting cold feet.

"It's gonna be frustrating but I wanna do this with you Andy."

"Frustrating huh?"

"You make me a better man Andy. The man without the uniform. I guarantee there'll be tough times. I guarantee that at some time, one or both of us is gonna want to get out of this thing. But I also guarantee that if I don't ask you to be mine, I'll regret it for the rest of my life, because I know, in my heart, you're the only one for me."

"I miss you..."

"You do huh? Does that mean I can come over?"

"No way Sam. Keep it in your pants till our wedding. I gotta go okay. Don't have too much fun."

"Fun huh? Careful McNally. I'll be waiting. Just in case you get lost, I'm the one with the tux in front of the aisle."

"Just in case you forget, I'll be the one who'll probably be in a really big white dress."

"I won't forget."

"I won't too. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye."

As soon as Andy kept the phone, Tracy was a little skeptical.

"What! We were just making sure that... you know... we uhh.. don't get lost. I mean, it's a big city right?"

Tracy was really not buying it. It was the third time today that Sam called.

"Uh huh. Sure. Who wouldn't wanna get lost on their wedding day right?"

"Yeah! Who wouldn't."

Sam on the other hand was about ready to barge into Andy's apartment. He missed her. It had been almost three days since he saw Andy. He was in fact getting a little cold feet due to the amount of time he had alone to himself.

"Come on man. Let's get wasted. I need to convince myself that I am not single and young again."

They were are The Penny; Jerry and Oliver busy convincing Sam to join in. Sam really didn't want to be at The Penny. What he wanted to do was go home and make sure he got enough of rest for his big day tomorrow. He wasn't really up for a night of getting wasted.

"What are we doing here?"

"We're celebrating your manhood! This is like your last chance to feel young Sammy. After that it's all 'take the kids to school', 'prepare dinner', attend 'parent teacher day' and occasionally when you can squeeze your time into their schedule, you get a 30 minute rundown on your wife. Not exactly how I would've 'pictured' my married life. But hey man, if marriage is nothing like mine, you gotta lemme know alright."

Great! Just great! Sam didn't need to hear Oliver sad marriage life. He was definitely sure his married life would be nothing like Oliver's; dull and dead. Even though Sam knew for sure that Oliver was happy, he didn't dream of that life with Andy. Well, just not yet.

"Cut Sammy a break will ya Olie. He's probably thinking of running you down when you're wrong. But hey Sammy, as your best man, I gotta ask. You done with your vows? Took you a while there to write them. What's so hard about them huh? All you gotta do is quote some guy and you know it'll bring McNally to tears."

"He wants it to be 'perfect' man. He wants McNally to swoon over him, like he doesn't already do that. Couples these days.. really i'm lost for words man."

Sam had great support system. Like really terrific.

"You know what guys, I gotta go. I'll see you guys tomorrow."

"Come on Sammy. Don't be mad okay? You and Andy make a great couple. It's just that marriage and woman are like a team; you will always be wrong and right at the same time."

"Yeah Sammy! Don't be a party popper. I got Zoe, Ashley and Kate in the morning. Cut me a break. Come on, for old time's sake. I'll can tell you about childbirth man."

"You're lucky your married Olie."

"What can I say, Zoe is one lucky gal."

"More like you're the lucky guy. I'll buy you a drink to start things of Sammy. Now I've gotta work things out with Tracy."

Sam was piss drunk that night. All he remembered was passing out in Jerry's living room. He slept till 10am. When the morning sun shined at his face that's when he woke up. OH. Shit. That was all Sam could think about. God he was late . He frantically searched Jerry's house to find Oliver and Jerry passed out on the sofa. Sam woke Jerry and Oliver up.

"Olie! Jerry! Get up! We're late! Andy is gonna kill me if I'm not at the other end of the aisle today."

"No man. You were a single man last night man. Trying save yourself from the tortures of marriage. I totally get it Sammy. Plus, girls are always fashionably late. Don't worry. We'll make it in time."

"Yeah man. You know what... why...why don't you go and uhh... get a shower. I'll make coffee for us."

An hour later Sam was frantically finding for his vows he gave Jerry to look. He tried searching his room but didn't get much luck.

"Jerry! Where the hell are my vows? If i can't remember them I'm screwed and you'll be dead. You'll have to explain to Andy why the hell her husband-to-be didn't show up at the wedding!"

"Kill the motors Sam. Look it's probably there somewhere in the pants I wore last night."

"It better be there."

Half an hour later after that they were ready and packed to head to the church. Sam in the other hand was busy trying to memorize his vows. Somethings just never change for man; they're ability to be punctual. The wedding ceremony was at three. Andy wanted a garden wedding with purple lilacs. A designer, a friend of the priest agreed to do responsible for the wedding. Sam remembered the time when they were having the wedding rehearsals. They were both in a mess; like literally. Andy had just finished work and Sam had just closed up a big case. Both of them were grumbling with each other mostly because they couldn't see eye to eye as to how the wedding should be conducted. Somehow, they finally managed to agree on one thing; A garden wedding that was traditional. Other than that, it was all 'my ideas are better than yours'.

In the bride's side, things were fairly organized. Andy was a planner so she made she was all ready. Mostly it was her getting cold feet. She was up at six in the morning and was already nervous. Nervous was a different thing all in all but when she didn't allow Tracy to have her beauty sleep, it started to annoy Tracy. They had their breakfast at eight and left straight after that; Andy, Tracy and Leo. Leo was clueless as both woman were frantically running around the house getting their things packed. Despite Andy being a planner, she totally forgot to pack her bag for the morning. The car ride was fairly quiet. Some many things were running through Andy's mind. This was the first time in life did she completely give herself to someone. Sam was obviously the one.

"How do I look?"

"Like the worst shit ever."

"Wow, really Jerry?"

"I gotta agree with Jerry over there Sammy. But don't worry, McNally will want you even more now."

"Great support system here guys."

"No problem Sammy."

"Anytime brother."

Sam was wearing a tux with a black tie. Nothing over the top. Just a simple tux.

"How do I look Trace?"

"You look gorgeous Andy."

"Are you crying? Please don't Tracy..."

"You look so beautiful. Sam is gonna make you so happy."

"I know he is.."

Andy wore a tube dress. It was a lace dress with a tinge of purple. At the top of the dress, a small purple lace lining made her more breathtaking. Leo was the paige boy and Oliver's daughters Ashley and Kate was the flower girls.

The atmosphere couldn't look more magical. People were all seated and ready for the wedding ceremony to take place. Familiar faces like Frank, Noelle, Dov, Chris, Luke and Gail were some of the them. Sarah and her husband was seated in the front row. It was time.

"You ready man?"

Jerry stood beside Sam and whispered.

"I've never been more ready in my life."

Andy's dad was walking her down the aisle.

"You ready kiddo?"

"I...I... don't know dad."

"You'll do great, both of you."

"We recorded our wedding?"

'Yeah, we did."

Sam played the CD and went and took his place beside Andy on the couch. Both of them a seat apart from each other.

The music really really brought chills down Sam's spine. He was in awe when he say Tommy bring Andy down the aisle. He was grinning so wide that his dimples showed. She was breathtaking. Her hair was loose with soft curls enhancing her features. She looked like a princess. She didn't have on a veil, but she still looked breathtaking Sam thought.

When Andy reached the front of the aisle, Sam spoke.

"You look beautiful Andy."

"You don't look too bad yourself."

"You may be seated. Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses, to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony, which is an honorable estate, instituted by God, and signifying unto us the mystical union. It is therefore not to be entered into unadvisedly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God. Into this holy estate these two persons come now to be joined. If anyone here feels they should not be bound in Holy Matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

"I charge you both, as you stand in the presence of god, to remember that love and loyalty alone will avail as the foundation of a happy home. If the solemn vows which you are about to make be kept inviolate, and if steadfastly you endeavor to do the will of your Heavenly Father, your life will be full of joy, and the home which you are establishing will abide in peace. No other human ties are more tender, no other vows more scared than those you now assume."

The priest looked at Sam, ready to deliver his line. Sam on the other hand had to be nudged by Jerry to make Sam realize that the priest was looking at him. Sam was in awe at how his bride, Andy looked. He couldn't take his eyes of her as he was facing her.

"Sam, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife, to live together in the holy state of matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor her and keep her, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?"

"I do."

Now Sam and Andy were both smiling at each other. The love between them radiated the whole ceremony.

"Andrea, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together in the holy state of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor him and keep him, in sickness and in health; and forsaking all other keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"

"Absolutely. I mean... I do."

They were now laughing at each other. Some how that sent a wave of joy to the crowd. Maybe it was just the wedding.

"Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?"

Tommy stood up and walked over to Andy's side.

"I do."

Before leaving, Andy's dad squeeze her arm. It was definitely time.

"The couple have decide to write their own vows. Go ahead."

At that exact time, the words that he had practiced ran out from his brain. Sam had to do something quick and fast.

"Sam? Your vows."

"Andy, you are so may things to me, and I am sure you will be many more in our life together. No one is perfect, but with your strengths and weakness, and with all of mine, together we are perfect. You complete me in more ways than I could have thought possible. I knew before my heart did that we were made for each other. When I first saw you I knew you were unique and I became captured. I got to know you inside and out and I realized that I was falling in love with you, boy did I fall hard. I found myself thinking, dreaming, and worrying about you. I couldn't get you out of my head not that I didn't want to. I waited patiently 2 years for you-you are my life and there's nothing in this world I wouldn't do for you. With this ring I give to you my body, my mind, my soul and my entire being. To have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer in sickness or health. To love and to cherish till death do us part."

Andy was now in tears. Sam was definitely the one.

"Sam, when I first met you I thought you were so full of yourself but then I got to know the real you and I fell so hard so fast in love with you that yes it did scare me so I ran but you kept looking out for me, watching over me and trying to protect me from getting a broken heart again but I was too stubborn to see it, I thought you were jealous so I pushed you away but then it happened-I got my heart broken yet again-but again you were there to catch me from falling-you caught me every time. I will always love you Sam Swarek and there's nothing that I wouldn't do to keep you here right beside me. I promise to wash away your tears with my kissed, and to hold you with passion. My affection will know no bounds. With this ring I give to you my body, my mind, my sol and y entire being. To have and to hold from this day forward. For better, for worse. For richer, for poorer in sickness or health. To love and to cherish till death do us part."

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Sam started pulling Andy closer to him.

"I get to call you Mrs. Swarek now."

"You better do."

Andy wrapped her arms around Sam as she kissed him. Sam had his hands on Andy's waist, pulling her close to him. They both walked down the aisle with Andy's hands wrapped around. Sam had his arm wrapped around her as well. There was no way he was gonna let Andy out of his sight. Not now, not ever. They then headed to the church hall for their wedding ceremony. Oliver was the one who pronounced them as husband and wife as they walked in.

"Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the 15th Division and friends; It's about bloody time. Introducing Mr. and Mrs Swarek for the very first time."

They both walked in. Sam walked in and took his seat beside his bride, Andy. They both ate and mingled with their guest. After cutting their cake, Sam made a toast.

"To everyone who made our day an even memorable day. Thank you for the company. Olie, oh it's on."

Right then, Andy was a little clueless. Andy could see that Zoe was clueless as to what was going on.

"Oh it's on brother, like donkey kong."

Andy tugged on to Sam's tux.

"What's going on? Do I need to no?"

"Just a little side bet me and Olie did. He said I won't last a year without greying."

"What did you say?"

"I told him that even if I started greying, I wouldn't look as bad as he did. A bald spot."

"Really huh?"

"Yeah."

They both stole a kiss one last time until Sam stood up and asked Andy up for a dance.

"Mrs. Swarek, care to join me on the dance floor?"

"It's will be my pleasure."

They were dancing to Ronan Keating's This I promise You.

"What was that early on?"

"What do you mean?"

"You couldn't say your vows. Did you forget them?"

"Well-"

"YOU FORGOT YOUR VOW!"

"Andy, I love you. Shouldn't that be the most important part?"

"Yeah but-"

Right then Sam kissed Andy. He couldn't help it. She was just so pretty, even when she was angry.

"You gonna keep doing that all the time when we fight?"

"Yeah. You gotta problem with that?"

"I kinda like it."

"You do huh?"

"Andy?"

"I...uhh.."

"Andy, it's okay."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know. Can you promise me something?"

"Anything."

"Tell me. I wanna know about us. How we were before the accident. I don't want us to keep fighting. Let's work this out."

"Okay."

"Okay. I'm gonna go clean up."

"Yeah, okay."

Things were working out between them. For better. They were learning to trust each other again. Started believing in their marriage. Andy wanted to make sure they worked.


"Where are we going?"

Sam had Andy's eyes covered with a cloth while he led her.

"Can I take this off me now?"

"Could you hold on?"

"I can't. Time and space not my thing remember. Plus, this is-"

"Okay, I'm gonna take them off now."

"Wow... It's beautiful."

Sam had taken the time to decorate Tracy's balcony. He lid the whole balcony with candles. At one end there was a bottle of champagne, beside it a make shift bed. He used wild flowers to decorate it instead of roses. There was soft music that was playing in the background. The place smelled really nice.

"How.. How...?"

"I asked Tracy and she was more than glad to lend me her apartment for our wedding night. She helped with the flowers and the music. I got that mattress from a camping store so it probably wouldn't-"

"I love it."

"You do?"

"I love you. How did I get so lucky?"

After changing their clothes in Tracy's room, they headed back to the balcony. After they had finished their bottle of champagne, they made love. This was definitely the start of something new that they would uncover together.


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